Tampa Bay Buccaneers: What Bucs Have to Do to Be Considered a Success in 2012

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made some great changes over the offseason to strengthen the team and reinvigorate the fans. They needed to after last season's performance.

Tampa has had some up-and-down years lately regarding success. While they do have a lot of talent, sometimes that talent doesn't translate onto the field. Why that happens is an entirely different argument, but nonetheless, it has been disappointing for Bucs fans to watch the team lately.

Next season will be an important step in examining the rebuilding of the franchise. Will the players live up to expectations? Will Greg Schiano prove himself as a good leader? Will anybody prove to be a leader?

In my mind, there are three things that need to happen for the 2012-2013 season to be considered successful. 

The first is that Josh Freeman has to have a great year. He is considered our quarterback of the future (though, I guess that should be now?), and it is imperative he gets his usual swagger back. If the next two years go poorly, we could be looking at a QB crisis. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

He showed tons of talent in 2010, but then he regressed a little in 2011. This was due to a number of factors, but this year, he should have no problem bouncing back, with new talent Carl Nicks guarding him, Vincent Jackson receiving and a talented backfield to help him out.

Secondly, Greg Schiano will have to show that he can be an effective head coach.

Of course, that is pretty hard to determine. How do you know if somebody is a good head coach?

I think you have look at two things: 1) how motivated the players are, and 2) the decision-making.

From this perspective, it doesn't really matter what the record of the team is, just as long as they actually play hard throughout the entire game. Last year, it was increasingly obvious as the season went on that Raheem Morris could not even get his players to compete. It was pitiful.

The decision-making is another thing that we will have to wait and see about. Whether it is managing a close game late in the fourth quarter or shuffling guys to see what fits best, Schiano will need to display that he can effectively run the team.

The third and final milestone for success is the team's record. Simply put, anything is better than last year. It sounds like a cop-out, but it's true. The Buccaneers need a sign that they have improved from last year and are a team on the up-swing.

With all the drama going on in the offseason, I hope it all subsides in time for the start of the regular season.

Tampa Bay is longing for the success it hasn't enjoyed consistently for a long time. Next season will be a huge indicator of where the team is going and what we can expect for years to come.

Let's hope the indicator is pointing up.